Cramer: Conscience Protection Act Protects Healthcare Professionals Against Abortion Mandate

Press Release

Congressman Kevin Cramer supported legislation passed by the House of Representatives Wednesday that prevents discrimination against individuals and health care facilities declining involvement in abortions.

The bill, S.304, includes an amendment with language originally introduced as H.R. 4828, the Conscience Protection Act of 2016. Cramer, a longtime ardent pro-life supporter, co-sponsored the bill.

The legislation amends the Public Health Service Act to codify the prohibition against the federal government and state and local governments for penalizing or discriminating against health care providers for refusing to be involved in or provide coverage for abortion. According to the bill, health care providers include health care professionals, health care facilities, social services providers, health care professional training programs, and group health plans.

The legislation also directs the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights and Department of Justice to investigate complaints alleging discrimination. Any person or facility affected by discrimination will be able to seek equitable or legal relief through a private right of action.

"It doesn't matter if you are pro-life, pro-choice, Republican, or Democrat, no one should be forced to violate personal beliefs and conscience and participate in an abortion," said Cramer. "And, they especially should not fear losing their jobs. The Conscience Protection Act acknowledges that whatever your abortion views, Americans should agree the idea of "choice' should not involve government compulsion. Healthcare professionals should be free to save lives, not take lives."

He noted the Weldon Amendment, a long-standing provision included annually in appropriations legislation, is intended to provide protection for health care providers who decline to participate in abortions by blocking federal funds from state and local governments that discriminate against a health care facility the does not cover or pay for abortion. "However, far too often the Obama Administration has blatantly ignored this provision and refused to enforce it. The Conscience Protection Act codifies into law the Weldon Amendment and allows discriminated individuals and providers to seek legal relief through a private right of action."

He said conscience protections are important for all Americans. "We cannot become a society that picks and chooses which moral objections are more deserving than others. We don't force non-smokers to buy cigarettes. We don't force vegetarians to buy meat. And we shouldn't force those who oppose abortion to take part in anything related to abortion."

Cramer is a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and last Friday participated in a Committee forum on the Conscience Protection Act where he and his colleagues heard personal testimony from health care providers who have been pressured to carry out abortion procedures at the risk of losing their jobs. He also regularly participates in pro-life marches in North Dakota and Washington, D.C., most recently at a Right to Life Prayer day on the steps of the North Dakota Capitol January in Bismarck.

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